State Bar & Bar Associations,
Ethics/Professional Responsibility,
Law Practice
Apr. 5, 2014
To audit or not to audit?
The State Bar is considering joining those states that audit lawyer trust accounts.
Patrick M. Kelly
Neutral
ADR Services Inc.
Patrick is a mediator at ADR Services Inc. and is a member of the Judicial Council. Previously, he was the managing partner for the Western Region of Wilson Elser and president of the California Bar (2012-2013).
Every practitioner should know what attorney trust accounts are and the fiduciary responsibilities in administering a client's money. Many California lawyers say they do not believe it is necessary to periodically audit these accounts. Yet, according to California Bar statistics, 10 percent of the disciplinary complaints directly involve allegations of improper handling of client funds. Moreover, in 2011, the State Bar's Client Security Fund paid 22.9 percent of its awards on client trus...
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